Self Care as a Mental Health Remedy

So, let’s face it, part of our mental health has to do with the self-care routines that we have in place for ourselves. There are five different types of self-care: physical self-care, emotional self-care, psychological self-care, spiritual self-care, and professional care. Self-care simply means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical and mental health. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy.

Self-care looks different to everyone. For me, treating myself to a spa day, traveling or even a solo dinner date is my form of self-care. For others that I know, it is as simple as shutting themselves off from the world, snuggling up with a blanket, and binge watching their favorite TV series on Netflix. There’s no right or wrong way to practice self-care, you just have to figure out what works for you and brings you the most satisfaction.

A few quick tips to help you get started with a self-care routine include, but are not limited to:

·       Get regular exercise

·       Eat healthy, regular meals, and stay hydrated

·       Make sleep a priority

·       Try a relaxing activity (i.e. yoga, meditating, etc.)

·       Set goals and priorities

·       Practice gratitude

·       Focus on positivity, and

·       Stay connected

Although self-care is not a cure for mental illnesses, understanding what causes or triggers your mild symptoms and what coping techniques work for you can help manage your mental health.

In all, balance helps create the best peace in life. While certain stressors in life are necessary and sometimes beneficial, it is important not to let them get out of hand and become unbearable. They say it takes 30 days to create a habit, and even longer to break it, so try to commit to one change in your life and incorporate one form of self-care this week and see if it doesn’t begin to create a shift in your world. After all, life is just a journey in which we should do our bet to enjoy it and not be too critical of ourselves when we don’t need to.